Longwoods Publishing Corporation, the Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research (CAHSPR), and the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research are extremely pleased to announce the creation of a new Canadian journal for health services and policy research, to be published quarterly by Longwoods. 

This journal will provide an important new outlet for peer-reviewed research of relevance to Canadian health care services.  It will, more importantly, be designed to serve the evolving needs of health system decisions makers across the country looking for timely and relevant research, and new ideas, on the organization, financing, funding, management, regulation, delivery and use of health services for Canadians.  It will have an editorial team composed of both researchers and system decision-makers.  It will engage decision-makers in peer/relevance review.  It will include plain language synopses (in both official languages) of all academic articles.  It will publish (and review) articles in either official language.  It will exist in both print and electronic versions.  In short, it will provide a venue for peer-reviewed scholarly health services and policy research, debate and discussion, that is accessible and useful to health system managers, policy-makers and policy-influencers.  The new journal will supplant the Longwoods Review.   

With this announcement, Longwoods, IHSPR and CAHSPR wish to invite applications and nominations for the important positions of editor-in-chief and editor(s).  The editorial team for this new journal will be composed of recognized leaders from the researcher and decision-maker communities, who have an in-depth understanding of current issues facing the health care system, and of the range of perspectives and disciplines involved in the work of health services and policy research.  Prior editorial experience would be helpful, but is not essential.  We anticipate there being between two and four editors as well as the editor-in-chief.  The editorial team will be designed to cover both official languages, the researcher and decision-maker communities, and as much disciplinary and topic-expertise breadth as practical.    The editor-in-chief will assume overall responsibility for the scientific content of the journal, and will have the final word on all editorial decisions.  It is anticipated that the editors will work closely with the editor-in-chief, overseeing the peer review of all submissions to the journal, reviewing revisions of papers where relevant or appropriate, editing special issues of the journal, and making final recommendations to the editor-in-chief.  All appointments would be for an initial term of three years, renewable    We are seeking nominations and applications from both the researcher and the decision-maker communities.   Applications or nominations should take the form of a letter of interest (or nomination), supported by a resume or curriculum vitae (short form), and should be sent to Dianne Foster-Kent at Longwoods dkent@longwoods.com, or mail to:  #8 - 260 Adelaide Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 1N1] no later than October 22, 2004. 

Before the first issue of this new journal can go to press in the spring of 2005, it needs a name! We are interested in your suggestions.   Please submit your ideas for a proposed name to Dianne Foster Kent at the e-mail or mail address above no later than November 30, 2004.  The individual who first suggests the name eventually adopted will receive a prize of a five year subscription to the new journal, plus a set of three DVDs covering the life and times of Glenn Gould - as produced by the CBC; the winner will be announced on the Longwoods website early in January 2005.  

In anticipation of a spring 2005 first issue of this journal, we expect to release a formal call for papers to be submitted for review, once an editor-in-chief is in place.  However, we hope that this announcement will serve as motivation to begin thinking about papers that might fit the vision and objectives of this journal.   

And finally, Longwoods, CAHSPR and IHSPR welcome your comments and suggestions.  The success of this undertaking will depend on the commitment and enthusiasm of many people - authors, reviewers, editors, readers, subscribers.  We look forward to your active participation in making this new journal a must-read. 

Anton Hart,
on behalf of Longwoods Publishing Corporation

Peter Coyte,
on behalf of the Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research

Morris Barer,
on behalf of the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, CIHR

September 2004